Automatic music-sheet tracking device for player pianos and other instruments



H. THOMSON AND W. R. OYSTON.

AUTOMATIC MUSIC SHEET TRACKING DEVICE FOR PLAYER PIANOS AND OTHERINSTRUMENTS. APPLICATION FlLED NOV-18,1920.

1,434,722. Patented Nov. 7, 1922 77 517 77rry,

Patented Nov. 7, 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY 'rnomson, or PERTH, WESTERN USTRAL A R AND WILLIAM OYSTON, orxmsme'ron, NEAR SYDNEY, NEW scorn wALns, AUSTRALIA; SAID OYS'I'ONASSIGNOR TO SAID. THOMSON.

AUTOMATIC MpSIC-SHEET TRACKING DEVICE FOR PLAYER PIANOS AND OTHERImBUMENTS.

Application filed November 18, 1920. Serial Io. 424,812.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HENRY THOMSON, residing at Perth, in the State ofWestern Australia, Commonwealth of Australia, and WILLIAM ROBERT OYSTON,residing at Kensington, near Sydney, in the State of New South Wales,Commonwealth of Australia, both subjects of the King of Great Britain,have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Music-SheetTracking Devices for Player Pianos and other Instruments, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved music-sheet tracking device forplayerpianos and other musical instruments, and it has been devised inorder to provide a tracking device of simple mechanical construction,which is automatic in its operation and is controlled directly by themusic-sheet itself in its travel over the tracker-bar of the instrument.

For the purpose of maintaining a perforated music-sheet in correctplaying relationship to the tracker-bar and its air-ducts, it iscustomary to provide in player-pianos either adjustment devices whichare not wholly effective in their action, or automatic adjustment meanswhich are of a com lex mechanical and pneumatically operated 0 aracterand indirect in action.

The present invention is characterized by the provision of frictionalmembers or spool flanges adapted to bear against the edges of themusic-sheet; means automatically causing the approach of said members'tothe music-sheet edges during the forward motion of the sheet; meansautomatically maintaining said members in fixed relative positionswhilst the music sheet is travelling truly; and means for automaticallymoving said members outwardly during the rewinding of the music-sheet.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation illustrating a preferredembodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevation illustrating a braking device, and

Figure 3 is a view in plan illustrating a constructional modification.

In these views, the letter A designates a portion of thespool-propelling mechanism embodied in a player-piano; B the end wallsof a spool-casing; C the tracker-bar; D the music-roll holder devices; Ethe revolvably mounted take-up spool, and F the clip fastening forengagement by the ring provided at the commencement of the perforatedmusic-sheet. These parts are all as ordinarily employ-ed inplayer-pianos and they may be of any approved standard construction andarrangement.

According to the invention the take up spool E is fitted at its oppositeends with spindles a and b, one of which is screwed with a left handthread and the other with a right-hand thread.

On each of the screwed spindles (1, and b there is loosely mounted aguide disc 0, preferably of aluminium, having a centrally positionedboss (I which is internally threaded to form a screw en agement with itsspindle.

Inwardly exten ing arms e are fitted to the end walls B of thespool-casing, and fixedly mounted on said arms are check-members which.may be in the form of flat springs f having at their free outer endsbraking pads g of leather or like suitable material. These braking padsbear constantly upon the bosses at of the guide discs 0. y

In action, the end ring of the rolled musicsheet is hooked to thetake-up spool E, and rotary motion is imparted to the latter by theoperation. of the motor A in the usual.

wing to the braking action of the spring controlled pads g, the guidediscs 0 do not at first rot-ate with the spool E and are, therefore,caused by reason of the action of the screw-threads of the spindles a,and b to approach towards each other and the opposite edges of themusic-sheet. The pitch of the screw-threads is such that the spoolcomletes several revolutions before said guide discs come into contactwith the edges of the music-sheet.

When the guide discs 0 do contact with the edges of the music-sheet, thepressure exerted by frictional contact is sufiicient to overcome thebraking action of the pads 9 controlled by the weak springs f, whereuponthe discs revolve with the spool E and function as eflicient guides forthe maintenance of the music-sheet in correct playing position.

When the spool E is rotated in the reverse or rewindmg direction bymeans of power transmitted from the motor A, the guide discs 0 traveloutwardly on their respective,

be employed retarding weights which are adjustable and applicable in avariety of ways, in lieu of the spring sustained braking pads hereindescribed.

What we do claim is 1. In perforated sheet controlled mechanism, a takeup spool for said sheet having spindles at opposite ends to rotatablysupport the same, guide members mounted on said spindles to havemovement toward and away from said spool and rotate with the spool,means to hold said guide members against rotation and cause the same tobe moved inwardly on the spindles in a direction toward each other tocontact with the edges of the sheet as the sheet is wound upon the takeup spool, to maintain said guide members in fixed position on thespindles relative to the sheet and rotate with the take up spool whenthe sheet is travelling true, and to cause said guide members to moveoutward on said spindles in a direction from each other and away fromthe edges of the sheet during the unwinding of the sheet from the takeup spool.

2. In perforated sheet controlled mechanism, a take up spool havingspindles at op posite ends to rotatably support the same, one of saidspools being arranged with a right hand screw thread and the other witha left hand screw thread; guide flanges mounted on said spindles inthreaded connection therewith; yielding means to retard the movement ofsaid flanges with said spindles and cause the flanges to be moved on thespindles in a direction toward each other as the sheet is wound upon thetake up spool to bring said flanges into contact with the edges of thesheet, said contact of the flanges of the sheet adapted to overcome theflange retarding means, and said. retardingmeans adapted to retard themovement of said flanges as the sheet is unwound from the take up spoolfor the purpose specified.

3. Tracking means for perforated musicsheets comprising a take-up roll,spindles on said roll arranged with left and righthanded screw-threads,roller flanges adjustably mounted on said spindles, and check membersacting on said flanges.

4. Tracking means for perforated musicsheets comprising a take-up rollhaving spindles arranged with left and right-handed screw-threads,guides having a screw threaded engagement with said spindles, andbraking pads acting on said guides.

5. Tracking means for perforated musicsheets comprising a take-up rollhaving spindles arranged with left and right-handed screw-threads, guideflanges on said spin dles, internally threaded bosses on said flanges inthreaded connection. with the spindles and spring-controlled brakingpads bearing on said bosses. I

6. In perforated sheet controlled mechanism, a take up spool havingspindles at opposite ends to rotatably support the same, one of saidspindles being arranged with a right hand screw thread and the otherwith a left hand screw thread; guide flanges mounted on said spindles inthreaded con nection therewith; springs carrying pads to cooperate .withsaid guide flanges; and means to rotate the take up spool.

In testimony whereof we afliX our signatures in presence of twowitnesses. HENRY THOMSON.

WILLIAM R. OYSTON. Witnesses:

N. STARFIELD, R. BOULTON.

